“Come and See Blood on the Streets”

By Nilotpal Basu

Peoples Democracy, 5^th June, 2016

THE playing out of gruesome violence in post-poll West Bengal will put many a horrific nightmare to shame. What makes this violence almost inexplicable to the uninitiated in the `hell-hole’ of the present political landscape of the state is the `massive mandate’, which columnists and contributors are so eloquent in articulating. No wonder! We have been tutored since our childhood to believe that `victors’ have to be forgiving; there is no room for vengeance in triumph.

But, obviously, not so in present West Bengal. In fact, what is playing out is quite the contrary. The TMC chief and the re-elected chief minister had held out the threat in the run-up to the election in repeated public meetings that once re-elected, the new administration would see to it `inch by inch’ that the efforts of the people and the opposition to defeat the TMC is ‘taken care of’. The campaign had highlighted quite blatant threats to the Election Commission and sections of the administration who were active under the `model code of conduct’ for ensuring a free and fair polls to the assembly. It may otherwise escape the attention of the ‘columnists’ but only 32 lakhs separate the popular support of the TMC front from that of the opposition; but the TMC is most acutely aware of this reality. So, even though it may appear to be otherwise inexplicable, the violence can only be decoded by the special, if not obnoxious, nature of the regime that lords over West Bengal. It is an out and out authoritarian regime that runs the state. It was the same before the elections; now even more so.

THE EMERGING PATTERN OF VIOLENCE

That the rule of law is at best a notional idea in the state is clear. Despite the efforts of holding free and fair poll, the fact remains that four CPI(M) activists were killed in the run-up to the elections. And, each of these killings were directly linked to undermine the opposition and, in particular, the CPI(M) and the Left. The violence was linked to targeting of polling agents and potential polling agents and specifically aimed at scaring away voters. In most of these cases, the killers who have been named in the police complaints have not been arrested.

Despite the atmosphere of terror and intimidation, popular urge for exercising the franchise was visible. That the `MCC’ regime of the couple of months since the announcement of the election dates could not completely neutralise the affects of terror is also equally true. Therefore, the present spate of violence is particularly targeting the `resistance’ and its nucleus – CPI(M) and the Left. The clear design is to dismantle and decimate the Party and the Left, as well as, all other opposition forces.

In these pages, details of the violence have been chronicled in the last few issues. For sure, given the current trend, it will continue to be reported for quite some time in the future. But what has to be noted is not just the physical description of the violence; but the pattern which reveals this sinister design.

Notwithstanding the spread of the violence across the length and breadth of the 20 districts of the state, what is particularly noteworthy is the fact that violence and terror has been more intense and focused in areas where the opposition has managed to register an electoral victory over the TMC, be it an assembly segment, or a municipal ward or panchayat or even a single polling booth. The basic idea is to stifle the spirit of resistance and rupture the links with the people which have resulted in the electoral reverse of the ruling party in these places.

SOME ISSUES WHICH NEEDS TO BE UNDERLINED

That areas which need to be specially noted to understand this cynical plot takes us to the Jadavpur assembly constituency. In 2011 assembly elections, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya was defeated by over 30,000 votes. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the CPI(M) candidate trailed substantially. In most of the municipal wards, massive rigging led to the defeat of the Left candidates in the Kolkata municipal elections. However, this time around, Sujan Chakraborty, CPI(M) state secretariat member, won by nearly 15,000 votes. Not only that, he scored a lead in each of the ten municipal wards. This was made possible by both popular resistance as well as the measures initiated by the EC. Chakraborty defeated the incumbent power minister and former home secretary who was the TMC nominee. The chief minister herself had cast doubts about the results and expressed the need for `going into the matter’. Naturally, that is now playing out in the most medieval violence that has been let loose on not only the Party and the Left but even common voters. Attacks on houses and capture of Party offices is now the every day reality.

Another such area is Haldia, the industrial hub which adjoins Nandigram. In this area, the Party and the Left not only faced the violence by the TMC but also attempted disruption by the newly-formed party of Lakshman Seth, former MP and former Party state committee member who had been expelled for his anti-people and anti-Party activities. But braving all these, a woman, Tapasi Mondal of the CPI(M) was elected by over 10,000 votes. Therefore, this area has also come as a special target where indiscriminate violence including that on the house of the newly elected MLA is for all there to see. One could go on with countless similar instances.

Countless offices of the CPI(M), different mass and class organisations across the state have been forcibly occupied, gutted, demolished. Party leaders, mass organisation leaders, elected members at the local level, candidates and, of course, voters, none are being spared. Areas in which the TMC had to suffer reverse, voters are asked to pay an exorbitant amount as fines for carrying on their life and livelihood in their home and hearth.

The most cynical aspect of this violence is the complete inaction of the police administration in dealing with offences which stem from political vendetta. The reasons are not hard to find. Officers of the civil and the police administration who had been transferred out by the Election Commission during the pendency of MCC have been reverted back to their earlier positions immediately on the assumption of office, notwithstanding the public approval of officers who had covered themselves with positive impact on the fairness of the election process. Similarly, number of ministers who had lost the elections had been appointed in high level positions in their respective erstwhile departments. This is to send out a clear message that these defeats are of no consequence, so far as the ruling party is concerned!

THE THREAT OF COMMUNAL POLARISATION

The intense orchestrated violence is accompanied with another major threat of communal polarisation. The repeated visits of prime minister Modi in West Bengal in the run up to the assembly elections and his `intended’ attacks on the TMC was to create an atmosphere of polarisation and to cut down the possible electoral loss for the TMC. The North Bengal districts which were considered a strong ground for the Left and secular opposition saw a more pronounced presence of the BJP. Two of its three seats where they have won falls in this region. The votes polled by BJP in North Bengal is 16 percent as compared to 8 percent in the south Bengal districts. Overall, the BJP’s vote share has come down from 17 percent in 2014 Lok Sabha elections to 10 percent in the 2016 assembly elections. It is also clear that the victories were registered due to unusual decrease of the TMC votes in these seats.

Naturally, this selective presence of the BJP and the accompanying communal campaign is complemented by the TMC’s pandering to minority communal forces. The latest evidence of this is in the form of inclusion of Siddiqullah Chaudhury who was till the other day associated with Jamaat-e-Ulema and had openly supported the activities of fundamentalist groups in Bangladesh.

Therefore, it is the continuous quid-pro-quo between the ruling party in the centre and that in the state will loom large.

The authoritarian build-up during the last five years will be further accentuated is a fact which is becoming increasingly clear.

RESISTANCE AND UNITY

While it is clear that the violence that we are witnessing is far more intense and widespread than in the `hoodlum days’ of the seventies and the semi-fascist regime of Siddharth Shankar Ray, the growing unity of the people is also something which one cannot miss. Braving the violence in the very initial days of these post-poll violence are signs of resistance in certain areas. Villagers, poor people who have got together, chased away miscreants and attackers. There has been widespread revulsion against an incident where a pregnant woman had to suffer a miscarriage of her unborn foetus when she was pushed and kicked while attempting to save her husband and his companions from the attacks launched by the TMC goons. There is major protest particularly in the social media over the lynching of a girl student in Ashutosh College in South Kolkata when she went to collect her admit card for the examination simply because she happens to be an SFI activist.

Therefore, unity and resistance, is the way forward. Authoritarianism cannot be permanent. Issues of policy of both the central and state governments will definitely adversely affect the life and livelihood of the people. Struggle for restoration of democracy and against these anti-people policies will go hand-in-hand to restore civil rights. It is with this in mind that the CPI(M) Polit Bureau, in its recently-held meeting, has given a clarion call: “Under these circumstances, the CPI(M) calls upon the people of West Bengal to unitedly resist this murder of democracy and civil liberties in the state. The strength of the people’s unity is the answer to meet this unprecedented unleashing of violence.”

TMC ATTACK SINCE POLL ANNOUNCEMENT 2016

TMC ATTACK SINCE POLL ANNOUNCEMENT 2016

INTENSIVE political violence against the opposition is continuing after election results have been declared in West Bengal. Ten Left Front activists have been killed during and after the election process, four of them after the declaration of results. But the magnitude of the attack cannot be comprehended only through the number of the killed. 1,924 activists and supporters have been injured in the attack; many of them were admitted in hospitals. More than 9,200 persons have been rendered homeless, 2,876 houses were ransacked, destroyed or burnt. At least in 12 cases, cluster of houses in the villages were put to flames. In a clear message that opposition parties will not be allowed to function in a normal manner, offices of Left parties and mass organisations were attacked, destroyed, ransacked, seized or burnt in large numbers. 575 offices of the CPI(M) or Left parties and 128 offices of mass organisations were attacked in these ways. Another feature is the direct attack on livelihood. Hundreds of shops, mostly small, belonging to Left supporters were looted and ransacked. In villages, ‘suspected’ Left voters are being denied jobs including MNREGA. In industrial areas or in construction sites casual and contract workers are sacked. There is all-pervasive atmosphere of fear in government offices, municipalities and rural level administration.

CPI(M) Will Fight Back Terror in West Bengal

http://peoplesdemocracy.in/2016/0619_pd/cpim-will-fight-back-terror-west-bengal

KOLKATA, 13^th June: THE CPI(M) has decided to develop broader unity to resist violent attacks on people in West Bengal after the elections. The state committee meeting of the Party, on June 11-12 called upon the Party workers and people to stand in unison against murderous attacks. Party will also focus on issues of livelihood to build up class and mass movements.

Eight Left Front activists have been killed during and after the election process, two of them after the declaration of results. But the magnitude of the attack cannot be comprehended only through the number of the killed. 1,924 activists and supporters have been injured in the attack; many of them were admitted in hospitals. More than 9,200 persons have been rendered homeless, 2,876 houses were ransacked, destroyed or burnt. At least in 12 cases, cluster of houses in the villages were put to flames.

In a clear message that opposition parties will not be allowed to function in a normal manner, offices of Left parties and mass organisations were attacked, destroyed, ransacked, seized or burnt in large numbers. 575 offices of the CPI(M) or Left parties and 128 offices of mass organisations were attacked in these ways.

Another feature is the direct attack on livelihood. Hundreds of shops, mostly small, belonging to Left supporters were looted and ransacked. In villages, ‘suspected’ Left voters are being denied jobs including MNREGA. In industrial areas or in construction sites casual and contract workers are sacked. There is all-pervasive atmosphere of fear in government offices, municipalities and rural level administration.

CPI(M) has decided to launch movement to defend democratic, civil rights at four levels. Firstly, Party will build up movements with independent strength. There will be resistance keeping in mind the objective situation of the area, mobilising people. Secondly, the Left Front will initiate programmes, discussing the details in the Front. Thirdly, CPI(M) will strive for united action with Left parties outside the Left Front, on issues. The Party wants to build up broader Left unity. And, lastly, broader mobilisation will be done including the friendly parties of Left Front like RJD, JD(U), NCP and other secular parties. This may include Congress too in different localities. CPI(M) will try to build up broadest possible peoples unity in the process. It is urgently needed to develop broad platforms to resist fascistic onslaught on rights and livelihood of the people.

In the state committee meeting of the Party, primary review of the election results was conducted. After the meeting, state secretary Surjyakanta Misra briefed media on some of the aspects of this review. The entire election process was conducted in an atmosphere of terror. The reign of terror, prevailing in the state for last five years have impacted organisational strength of the Party too. In many areas, proper organisational activities could not be stepped up during elections because of this atmosphere. While it was true that voting was more peaceful than 2014 Lok Sabha elections, many distortions took place. In many constituencies, 20 to 60 booths witnessed rampant false voting, capturing, and ouster of opposition polling agents. Peoples’ verdict was not reflected properly in these areas, making an overall impact on the results. Election Commission has not been able to implement corrective measures in such cases. In fact, the EC has taken steps in five percent of allegations filed by Left parties.

Review also identified organisational weakness of the Party. In many areas, proper organisational work could not be conducted at booth level. Despite large gatherings in public meeting, door to door contact was weak. Alienation with people in different areas could not be overcome yet. But, it was clear that wherever organisational activities were regular and relations with people was maintained, the result was comparatively better. As Left, democratic, secular forces fought this election together, it is difficult to separate vote share among them. In 169 assembly constituencies, votes for these candidates have increased. Within assembly constituencies, aggregate vote and share of Left candidates have increased in large number of booths as well. Booth level detail review will be done to ascertain the reasons of increase or decline of votes.

Misra said the discussion in the state committee has shown that enthusiasm and spontaneous response among Left supporters grew during the election process. However, it could not be translated into increase of votes proportionately everywhere.

Misra has categorically asserted that Left Front will remain united and will continue to fight on peoples’ issues. There may be some difference in perceptions among the constituents, which has happened in the past too. But these differences will be resolved through discussion within the front. 

TMC ATTACK SINCE POLL ANNOUNCEMENT 2016

TMC ATTACK SINCE POLL ANNOUNCEMENT 2016

Widespread Attack Continues in West Bengal

KOLKATA, 30^th May, 2016: INTENSIVE political violence against the opposition is continuing after election results have been declared in West Bengal.

Nine Left Front activists have been killed during and after the election process, two of them after the declaration of results. But the magnitude of the attack cannot be comprehended only through the number of the killed. 1,924 activists and supporters have been injured in the attack; many of them were admitted in hospitals.

More than 9,200 persons have been rendered homeless, 2,876 houses were ransacked, destroyed or burnt. At least in 12 cases, cluster of houses in the villages were put to flames.

In a clear message that opposition parties will not be allowed to function in a normal manner, offices of Left parties and mass organisations were attacked, destroyed, ransacked, seized or burnt in large numbers. 575 offices of the CPI(M) or Left parties and 128 offices of mass organisations were attacked in these ways. Another feature is the direct attack on livelihood.

Hundreds of shops, mostly small, belonging to Left supporters were looted and ransacked. In villages, ‘suspected’ Left voters are being denied jobs including MNREGA. In industrial areas or in construction sites casual and contract workers are sacked. There is all-pervasive atmosphere of fear in government offices, municipalities and rural level administration.

In Basudebpur village in Purba Medinipur district, CPI(M) activist Amit Pradhan was brutally killed by the TMC gang. His only ‘fault’ was that he was a polling agent of the CPI(M) in Bhagabanpur assembly constituency. Pradhan, along with his father was kidnapped by the TMC miscreants. Amit, 32 and father of a child, was mercilessly beaten to death. Even after this brutality, the TMC activists tried to snatch his body, probably to cover up murder. However, the villagers were able to send his body to Medinipur district hospital.

Amit Pradhan was martyred. But thousand others who were the polling agents of Left parties and opposition like him have become special targets of the TMC attack after polls. Many of them have suffered serious injuries, their houses attacked and ransacked, family members tortured. Many have been forced to leave their residences. Hundred others have been ordered to pay ‘fine’ to stay at their home.

After the election results were out in the state, the attacks organised by the ruling party  are widespread but they are meticulously planned too. They have particularly targeted areas where the Left and the opposition got wide support. TMC has also targeted particular booth areas, booth level activists and important functionaries at local level. Apart from physical attack, all-out assault on houses are designed to instill fear among people.

CPI(M) state secretary Surjyakanta Mishra has alleged that the target of the ruling party is to eliminate the opposition as a whole. Even after a big win, they are afraid of people.

In Basirhat, barbaric attack took place in village Panigobra. CPI(M) has won in Basirhat (North) constituency, defeating the TMC. The defeated MLA of the TMC led the attack in the village which has mostly supported the Left Front in the elections. TMC goons went to Panigobra and tried to disrupt a meeting of CPI(M) supporters there. But initially they were chased away by the villagers. After some time,  TMC mobilised armed gangs from many places in the area and cordoned Panigobra. They attacked and ransacked houses, looted many shops too and then set fire to houses. TMC gangs blocked the road to the village so that police and fire tenders could not reach. When the police managed to enter the village, TMC miscreants attacked police too and some of the policemen suffered injuries. Hundreds of villagers were forced to flee the village. Panigobra remained deserted for a week. The villagers have lost almost everything, from household materials to utensils. Burnt houses, remnants of structures reflect the wrath of the ruling party in post poll West Bengal.

The residents of a neighbouring village extended their help and it was they who started feeding women and children from 250 families of Panigobra who were forced to leave . CPI(M) organised a relief camp for all – including the TMC supporters. But once again this effort at peace was disturbed as the TMC leaders threatened to dismantle the camp.

In Narayangarh in West Midnapore, TMC attacked and looted the houses of CPI(M) district secretariat member Anil Patra and Party’s Narayangarh local committee secretary Sushen Sahu. They ransacked both houses, looted cycles, household materials, damaged doors and windows. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Surjyakanta Mishra contested from Narayangarh.

Newly elected MLA of Bishnupur in Bankura, Tushar Kanti Bhattacharya was attacked.

In Barjora, TMC gangs attacked and destroyed a number of CPI(M) offices in Pakhanna, Tajpur and other villages. Newly elected CPI(M) MLA Sujit Chakraborty along with other Party leaders went to the affected villages. When they were returning, TMC gangs gheraoed  their car. The car of Chakraborty was ransacked. The miscreants tried to drag him out of the car. He suffered an injury in right hand but could leave the place somehow.

Newly elected CPI(M) MLA Tapashi Mondal’s house was attacked in Haldia. Her house was ransacked.

As the attack continues, the resistance is also growing.

In Patrasayar in Bankura, TMC forced the villagers in Kantor to join their victory rally though the Left Front candidate was ahead in this village in the election. Naturally the villagers were not enthusiastic to join the TMC rally. Later a TMC gang attacked houses but villagers came out in numbers and resisted the attack. Some of the villagers were injured.

In Gotan village in Raina in Burdwan district, TMC organised armed gangs from neighbouring Hooghly district and attacked the houses of CPI(M) supporters. They began to loot the houses. First voice of protest came from Minati Roy, a 35 year old housewife. The miscreants assaulted her, snatched her earrings leaving her bleeding. This incident ignited women of the village who came out with whatever they could gather. They chased TMC miscreants and villagers joined in united resistance. TMC miscreants hurled bombs and one villager Mritunjoy Bag was injured. He was hospitalised.

Brutal Attack on Democracy in West Bengal

By Debasish Chakraborty

Peoples Democracy,   October 11, 2015

Kolkata: ‘DACOITY in Daylight’,  ‘Blood on the streets as Bengal goes to the polls in civic elections’, ‘Hide, Didi, Hide’, ‘ Unabated Lumpenraj’, ‘Elders stand up to goons of Trinamool in Bidhannagar’- these are some of the headlines in leading newspapers on October 4. They were reporting polls in three Corporations in West Bengal the day before. Paragraphs after paragraphs were written how the armed gangs of the ruling party practically invaded localities, particularly in Bidhannagar, and captured booths after fierce attacks on voters.

All elections, including Pachayat elections in 2013,  Lok Sabha elections in 2014, Municipalities polls including Kolkata Corporation in April this year were marred by widespread rigging, booth capturing and violence. Readers of Peoples Democracy would remember horrible facts of how TMC captured hundreds of booths in Kolkata and North 24 Parganas in particular in April. In many areas, the ruling party candidate got even 98 percent of the polled votes! Elections in Bengal have become farce to a degree never imagined in any place in the country.

The apprehension was there this time too when Bidhannagar, Asansol and Bali (as newly added part of Howrah Corporation) went to polls. In Bidhannagar, Left Front candidates were threatened, some of them were forced to remain indoors throughout the campaign period. Left activists were attacked, campaign materials destroyed. Three days before the elections, gangs of TMC activists, mostly rowdies were brought into Bidhannagar from different areas. They were kept in government-owned stadium, lodges and hotels. They were brought in broad daylight in buses and cars. Nothing was done to ensure peaceful polling despite repeated appeals to administration. In fact, police was accomplice to the whole design.

On the polling day, these gangs began to take control from the morning. They began to beat up Left polling agents, chasing away voters, thrashing residents near polling booths, roaming in gangs and converting the whole municipality area into a terror zone. The people of the state were shocked to watch this blatant and violent attack on democracy in television from the morning. Scores were injured, including elderly voters and women who dared to stand in the queue.

By 10 am, it was clear that an unprecedented rigging was taking place in Bidhannagar. In most wards, opposition agents or supporters were chased away. Roads were deserted and outsiders were on rampage with the help of the police. The wrath turned towards the media persons covering these scenes. One after another journalist was attacked; many of them were beaten up severely. Altogether 20 journalists and photographers from television and print media were attacked. Some of them had to be hospitalised. Women journalists were threatened of dire consequences including rape. Cameras were destroyed. The attacks were led by the TMC MLAs. Never before had such a large scale attack on media happened anywhere in the country. The real face of Mamata Banerjee rule was thoroughly exposed to the entire nation.

Meanwhile in Asansol, many booths were captured, though the resistance was far more intense in Raniganj, Jamuria and Asansol city. Coal mafias led attacks there with connivance from police. In Bali, people were chased away from booths and no semblance of election was witnessed.

Only exception was Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, where three tier panchayats went to polls. United vigil from the people forced the ruling party hoodlums to back away and a peaceful voting took place there.

WAVES OF PROTEST

The ferocious attack on democratic rights of the people shattered the conscience of the state and wide protests took place. The Left Front demanded a re-poll in three Corporations. Immediate sit-in in front of the state election commission had started. The Left front also gave a call for Bidhannagar Bandh on October 5, which was withdrawn only after state election commissioner declared deferment of counting for an indefinite period.

More farcical incidents were in store, though. After the postponement of the counting, TMC activists led by senior state ministers stormed the state election commission’s office. The election commissioner Sushanta Ranjan Upadhyay proved himself a loyal follower of the chief minister throughout his tenure and never exercised the legal powers to protect the sanctity of free and fair elections. He was widely criticised as a ‘stooge’ of the ruling party. However, with widespread criticism from all quarters, the election commissioner tried to deflect the anger in a limited manner. Even that was not permitted and senior ministers threatened him with dire consequences. The election commissioner was forced to first rescind his order and then resign altogether. He put in his papers to the governor and within hours the transport secretary of the state was appointed as new commissioner, simultaneously holding both the posts. Till the filing of this report, the entire episode remains undecided.

The state rose in protest. Rallies and protest marches took place in all corners of the state against the murder of democracy. The media persons took out a huge procession in Kolkata and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. Renowned intellectuals issued a strong statement condemning the attack on democracy. Signatories included Mrinal Sen, Soumitra Chatterjee, poet Sankha Ghosh, film directors Srijit Mukherjee, Aparna Sen, actor Abir Chatterjee and former state election commissioner Mira Pande.

A WEEK OF AUTHORITARIAN BRUTALITY

In fact, the first week of October has exposed the authoritarian nature of the TMC regime in a brutal form. Nearly 300 Left activists were injured, many of them severely, when police attacked a rally in Kolkata on October 1. Police brutally charged batons on the rally which was proceeding towards Kolkata police headquarters, protesting the deteriorating law and order in the city and hundreds of false cases. The rally was attacked nearly a kilometre away from the police headquarters at Lalbazar. Police was determined to spill blood and attacked the marchers without any provocation and warning.

CPI(M) Central Committee member and CITU state secretary Dipak Dasgupta, Polit Bureau member Md Salim, Party state committee member Manab Mukherjee, Rupa Bagchi, senior RSP leader Sukumar Ghosh  and front ranking leaders of Kolkata district were among those injured. Many were hospitalised. Many of them were hit on the head. CPI(M) activist Bishwanath Kundu was grievously injured and he had to go through an emergency brain operation.

Lalbazar march was organised by the Left Front in Kolkata. Processions started from three points. Senior Left Front leaders like Biman Basu and Suryakanta Misra led these processions. Thousands of people marched towards Lalbazar. At a point, police suddenly charged towards the rally. They began lathicharge without any provocation. Left leaders tried to persuade them to restrain but without any effect. Even after the first attack, the protesters refused to turn back and then came the second spur of attack. Large police force along with the RAF was used in this attack. Women protesters were beaten up by police too. Many senior and aged protesters were mercilessly beaten. The campaign vehicle of the Left Front was vandalised by the police.

A delegation of Left leaders, meanwhile was scheduled to submit memorandum to the police commissioner. But they refused doing so, protesting the brutal attack. Suryakanta Misra and other leaders rushed to the spot and a road blockade started. It continued for hours.

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury condemned this barbaric attack in a huge rally in Mathurapur on October 2. While addressing the public meeting in connection with the SFI state conference, Yechury warned the ruling party that such attacks on democratic movements in 1970s preceded the formation of the Left Front government in the state. The people of West Bengal would never allow such brutality and would respond in a fitting manner.

On October 4, thousands of people participated in a protest march in Kolkata against the police brutality and rigging in the civic polls.

TMC RULE IN WEST BENGAL: Sleaze & Terror: A Lethal Cocktail

'PEOPLES DEMOCRACY' 

EDITORIAL, 14th September, 2014

THE multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam that has looted crores of rupees from over 17 lakh poor people in West Bengal has now reached such proportions that it is becoming clearer by the day that the ruling Trinamool Congress party in the state and many of its prominent leaders are involved neck deep in this conspiracy.

For over three years now, the CPI(M) has been actively demanding the intervention of Central investigation agencies to unearth the scam, identify the culprits and to bring them to book in accordance with the law of the land. Under the Left Front government, a letter was sent to the financial regulator, SEBI, asking for a thorough investigation into the scam. Subsequently, after 2011 assembly elections and the change of government, CPI(M) and Left Front delegations have met the president of India twice, prime minister on three occasions and the minister for corporate affairs twice. In all these meetings, the CPI(M) had stressed for an urgent need for central agencies to step in and ensure that the properties of the Saradha group of companies be confiscated and the consequent amounts used to compensate the victims adequately. But the then UPA-II central government pleaded helplessness as the Trinamool Congress state government was not agreeing to a probe by the central agencies. It is now clear why the Trinamool Congress and its government refused such an investigation. It was precisely because it wanted to hush up this scam and, instead of confiscating the properties of the scamsters decided to nominally compensate some of the victims, financing this through the state exchequer. A full scale drama was enacted when the chief minister transported people from all over Bengal, at state government’s expense, to the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata and handed over cheques for paltry amounts to some of those who were defrauded. The people of Bengal eventually had to pay for the fraud committed by the scamsters. Clearly, the Trinamool Congress and the state government were protecting such scamsters.

Eventually, after three years since 2011, at the intervention of the Supreme Court, the CBI was asked to investigate as the apex court described this scam as having larger dimensions.

A Trinamool Congress member of the Rajya Sabha who once threatened to disclose the entire story of the scam including the involvement of the chief minister was promptly taken into custody by the special investigation team of the state government. He has remained in jail for nearly a year now.

Another TMC Rajya Sabha member, Ahmad Hassan Imran, was interrogated by the ED for his connection with the scam tainted chit fund group. The investigations conducted by the Special Fraud Investigation Organisation (SFIO) has allegedly found the MP linked with over Rs 200 crore hawala transactions. The case has been handed over to the CBI to investigate the possibility of terror links in a neighbouring country.

Various Trinamool Congress leaders, including various ministers in the state cabinet, had been summoned and interrogated. The latest has been the arrest of a former Director General of Armed Police, Rajat Mazumdar, who is currently the vice president of the Trinamool Congress. He had earlier served as DIG and DIG operations in the state.

Media speculation is rampant regarding the chief minister’s involvement in the whole scam. Telegraph (September 10, 2014) reports that the CBI director said that he was aware of the reports of the alleged meeting between the West Bengal chief minister and Saradha Group boss, Sudipto Sen (now arrested and in custody), in Kalimpong in 2012. The CBI chief has reportedly said, “We are proceeding in the right direction and hope to achieve bigger results in short time”. Reports have also appeared that when the West Bengal CM was the union railway minister in 2010, the Saradha Group had bagged a contract with the railways to implement the minister’s pet project, `Bharat Tirtha’ programme.

All these clearly show that the Trinamool Congress is equally guilty of large scale sleaze involving the loot of over 17 lakh poor people in Bengal. It can only be hoped that the CBI, SFIO, ED and other agencies expose the entire scam and bring the guilty to book while adequately arranging for the compensation of the victims.

Such sleaze is in addition to the large-scale attack on democracy through the politics of terror and torture mainly targeting the Left throughout the state by the Trinamool Congress. The unabated violence and sexual crimes against women, extortions, widespread attack on teachers and educational institutions, openly rigging and manipulating the democratic election processes etc have all resulted in the virtual break down of democratic structure and institutions in Bengal.

The CPI(M) and the Left have been consistently braving such attacks with hundreds of its valiant fighters being murdered and thousands rendered homeless. Fearing the possible early resurgence of the Left Front in Bengal, the Trinamool Congress, for some time now, has been indulging in whipping up communal passions hoping to garner the support of the minorities. This has dangerously played into the hands of the RSS/BJP to mount a counter communal offensive in order to consolidate its electoral base and possibly try to make a maiden entry into the Bengal state assembly. Such competitive communalism creates a potentially volatile situation in the state shattering the atmosphere of communal peace and social harmony that had been the hallmark of the over three decade Left Front rule in the state.

This is a real danger that the people of Bengal are being subjected to today. The CPI(M) and the Left are determined to foil all such efforts and work for the restoration of both democracy and secularism while protecting and safeguarding the interests of the vast majority of the people whose gains under the Left Front rule are being constantly and seriously eroded. (September 10, 2014)

http://peoplesdemocracy.in/2014/0914_pd/tmc-rule-west-bengal-sleaze-terror-lethal-cocktail

Sharpen the Battle to Safeguard Livelihood and Democracy

Biman Basu

The result of 16^th Lok Sabha elections has actually made a significant shift of paradigm in political situation. For the first time a Hindu fundamental force has been successful in getting clean majority by capturing as many as 282 seats. CPI (M0 and other Left parties must take account of this situation and initiate movement in each corner of the country along with anti-Congress, anti- BJP forces. Political programs have also to be organized focusing that.

The condition of West Bengal after the Assembly election in 2011 has to be discussed seriously. After the defeat of the Left Front TMC – Congress alliance took charge of the administration of the state and that resulted in a havoc change in the atmosphere of the state political scenario. The Left Front Government did the resurrection of democracy in West Bengal by putting an end of the terror, extortion and attack on democratic rights of people during the semi fascist terror of the 70s. The Left Front Government could successfully wipe out the politics of terror and murder. But that has been reintroduced by the TMC Government which has created a dismal political atmosphere in the state. Heinous attacks have been organized on the democracy, democratic rights and the lives and livelihood of all sections of common people in the state since last three years. 157 Left leaders, activists and supporters have lost their lives in attacks by hoodlums carrying the flag of the ruling party. Among them 147 comrades became martyr before the declaration of the Parliament election and 10 more comrades have been murdered during the election campaign and publication of result. Attacks on the houses of Left Front activists, looting, arson, terrorization and attacks on livelihood have been taking place extensively. Cattle, poultry, fishes in ponds, agricultural produce and seeds also have also been looted. At least 27283 farmers, agricultural laborers and share croppers have been ejected and deprived of rights. 48382 persons have been evicted from their own houses. 6182 houses have been damaged, looted or burnt down. According to the latest report, at least 9529 persons have been pressurized or intimidated to pay 27 crore 87 lakh and 8 thousand rupees to the TMC-backed miscreants as levy. 1365 offices of Left Front parties and 398 offices of various Leftist mass organizations have been ransacked, looted or forcibly occupied. 5732 leaders and activist of the Left Front parties have been involved in false and fabricated cases.  All these figures are increasing every day.

Our state has achieved top most position in the country in the atrocious incidents on women like assaults, molestation and rape. 1035 women have been physically assaulted. In a majority of cases, the police took no steps against the criminals. The anti-socials backed by the ruling party have been given free hands in the schools, colleges and universities. Due to direct support of the ruling party illegal control on admissions, forcible extraction of money in different ways and mass copying during examinations have been on the increase. All these we have informed the Chief Minister and demanded immediate halt to these malpractices during the submission of Memorandum on 9^th June.  Even the representatives of the ruling party have been found in invigilation copying even in the MBBS examination.

Narendra Modi has become the prime Minister. He flied all over the country during the election campaign in a chartered plane  just like American Presidential election and promised of development, employment etc. He has also promised good governance. It might have touched the young generation. The campaign of development a bit differently designed may also have attracted them. It is known from different sources that such prolonged campaign has cost BJP around ten thousand crores of rupee. One significant incident of this Parliament election was the patronage of the big businessmen and corporate houses for Mr. Modi and his party. Quite naturally it is not expected that Modi Government will address the demands of the common people overruling those corporate giants. The future will tell the direction of the economic policy of the newly elected Central Government. Some initial cosmetic steps for people will not be enough. Without fundamental economic alternative the pang of the workers, peasants and common people will only increase.  

‘Garibi hatao’ (elimination of poverty) was the slogan of Mrs. Indira Gandhi during the 5^th Lok Sabha elections during 1971 and she won 352 seats out of total 518 in that election. Her image was somewhat was different then in the context of Bangladesh liberation war.  But one should recall the statement of the Polit Bureau after her win that…’’Only fools can expect that the success of Indira Gandhi will solve the fundamental problems of people. The plight of the people will continuously increase till the country follows the capitalistic direction. The tall talks of employment for the unemployed may be heard and the pang of the people will increase in contrary. With huge majority Congress will only organize attacks on livelihood. Stable Congress Government will be embodied as stable extortion and stable attack.” The Congress Government unleashed attacks on democratic rights and this BJP Government may adopt some new measures for that.

Like other states of the country Hindu fundamentalist campaigns of BJP and RSS are on the rise in our state too. As they are at the helm of affairs at the Center, TMC can anytime go into an understanding with them. That unholy alliance may call dangers for the state. We should not forget that since their inception in 1998 TMC was an ally of BJP and cabinet member of their Government at the Center.

In this critical juncture we must be watchful about the overall political development of the country and design our future movements accordingly. To combat the situation prevalent in our state we must exercise our fullest effort in the mass movements to resist.  Left Front will observe sit-in demonstration program in protest of terror against the Left Front activists unleashed by the goons backed by the ruling party and attack on democratic rights as well as the livelihood of the common people of the state from 25^th–27^th June. The sit-in demonstration program will start from 25^th June to recollect the black days of internal emergency which was also declared on the very date in 1975. Campaigns have already been initiated to make the program successful.

The demands of the sit-in demonstration are as follows –

1.    All necessary measures for the protection of democracy, personal freedom and human rights, including the right of the Left, other opposition and each citizen to protest and to criticize, must be taken in the state immediately.

2.    Stop assault, murder, terror and plunder and punish the criminals involved.

3.    Stop the attacks on the lives and livelihood of common people including workers, employees, professionals, teachers, peasants and agricultural laborers.

4.    False and fabricated cases framed against the workers and supporters of political parties and on common people must be withdrawn immediately. Every evicted person must be brought back home. Security must be provided to offices of all opposition political parties including the Left and those of mass organizations; rights of holding meetings and conferences must be secured.

5.    Exemplary punishment must be given to those guilty of assaults on women, rape, molestation and murder. Police officials guilty of neglecting duties must be punished.

6.    The police administration must overcome political pressure in the interests of law and order and take strict steps against criminals.

7.    Effective steps must be taken to keep communal harmony in the state intact. All-party meetings at all levels including the state and district levels must be held to maintain peace, order, unity, solidarity and harmony.

8.    The educational institutions must be freed from chaos. A healthy democratic environment must be maintained in elections of managing committees and students’ unions. The admission system for pupils must be merit-based and transparent.  The security of everyone concerned must be provided in educational institutions. Steps must immediately be taken to hold a judicial inquiry into the custodial death of Sudipta Gupta.

9.    Control the price rise of the essential commodities. Reduce the prices of petroleum products and fertilizers. Strengthen social security measures and expand its purview for everybody. Democratic process has to be initiated to stop irregularities in the Municipalities and Panchayats.

10.                       Open all closed factories and tea gardens. Agricultural and industrial development has to be initiated for employment.

The battle for common people’s lives and livelihood, resurrection of democracy and democratic rights, against price rise of the essential commodities is guided by the realization of the conscious people and their coordinated efforts. We mentioned couple of years back that the attack on Left activists will not spare the common people. Such incidents are on the rise.

In some parts of the state the hyperactive presence of the fundamentalist forces can also be marked. We must not forget that the tireless uncompromising continuous struggle of the Leftists against communal threat has formed the great heritage of communal harmony of West Bengal. People with democratic and progressive spirits must remain conscious about those unholy forces. Now it is urgent to eliminate fundamental forces, the enemy of the class based movements, from the people. Communists and Leftists must discharge their duties in that.

It is time to sharpen close connection with the people to develop the conditions of unity, solidarity, harmony and law and order in the state and resist politics of communal division. To achieve that movements of peasants and working classes have to be prioritized. Today’s demand is the adoption of new form in the battle for common people’s lives and livelihood, restoration of democracy, against price rise and communal politics. Let all of us adopt such resolution.

Attacks & Violence Against Left Front Supporters

Violence against Left Front Workers, Supporters and common people perpetrated by AITC in West Bengal after Loksabha Election 2014

At a glance

1.Coochbehar

In Coochbehar Sadar area of Coochbehar district, 30 to 40 heads of cattle were looted in Shuktabari P.S, 48 heads in Lalbazar area of Sitalkuchi, and fish were looted from ponds in Panishala. Fines were being levied at exorbitant rates in several areas (at the rate of 20 to 25 thousand rupees). In Shuktabari, cattle worth rupees 1 lakh 45 thousand were taken away.

In Bhaberthana GP, khas land being tilled by 20 peasants was occupied and Trinamool flags planted there. 300 bighas were similarly occupied in New Mathabhanga.

Among offices belonging to LF parties which were occupied / looted / damaged, there are CPI(M) and AIFB offices in Sadar Uttar area, local committee no 1 of CPI(M) at Mahishkuchi, Baxirhat, 5 more offices in New Mathabhanga.  CITU office was forcibly occupied at Panishla No 4. Electricity was disconnected in 2 booth areas of Panishala.

In Sitalkuchi area property worth more than 11 lakh rupees was lost when shops, establishments and equipment were looted and paddy forcibly harvested.

At Gosairhat, 30 bighas of land with boro paddy could not be harvested because the Trinamool people prevented the farmers.

At Bhaberhat, resistance to similar prevention resulted in injuries of 2 peasants, now hospitalized.

In Shikarpur GP and Jorapatki GP 140 shops have been looted and locked up.  AITC leaders have gone from house to house in Shikarpur GP demanding huge amounts per family, ranging from 15 thousand to 1 lakh 25 thousands rupees.

In Hazrahat-1 GP, the party flag has been replaced by AITC flag in the CPI(M) local office. In Bairagirhat GP, CPI(M) workers are being pressurized for money and prevented from going out to the market.

Fines totaling 2 lakh 60 thousand rupees have been demanded from 11 families in Phulbari.

In some parts of Coochbehar Block-I also, extensive damage to property worth 69 lakh 28 thousand rupees was made by AITC attackers.

In Coochbehar Sadar Dakshin Zone, 34 persons have been driven out of their homes.

In Tufanganj area, 79 people have been forcibly confined to their homes and prevented from working on the fields or harvesting or opening their shops.                                                                                                       

2.Jalpaiguri

In  Jalpaiguri Sadar and other parts of the district violence by AITC took place. At least 8 LF activists have been injured including CPI(M) leader and ex-MP Jiten Das.  Many shops and establishments have been damaged, looted and forcibly closed, 6 in Rajganj PS alone. Autos and small trucks belonging to Left supporters were not allowed to ply. Many people were forcibly prevented from going to work. Workers in tea gardens and orchards were specially affected. 8 or 9 small and medium-sized traditional tea gardens, 3 of them in Rajganj PS, drove away those loyal to the red flag, the owners supporting the AITC hoodlums. 12 workers of Sonamukhi Tea Estate, 2 workers of Rong Tea Company, 12 workers in orchards, 7 workers of Dooars plantation and 20 workers of hatcheries were attacked and threats have been made to drive them out. Especially in new tea estates and smaller estates, the workers are being pressurized and intimidated by AITC goons to join their party. Even in small tea gardens, looting and physical attacks are taking place. 

On 22nd May the Rajganj Zonal Committee office of CPI(M) was captured by AITC miscreants but was later reoccupied by the Party workers. 8 more branch offices and LC offices of the Party were forcibly occupied by AITC. The police was informed in each case but took no steps.  

3.Darjeeling

The CPI (M) Local Committee office (Phulbari no 2) was first attacked and damaged on 16th May and razed to the ground with a payloader by AITC men on 22nd  May. They also put up AITC flags there. Party leaders went to the spot to demonstrate and lodged a complaint. Comrade Ashok Bhattacharya former Minister, Comrade Jibesh Sarkar and other leaders went on hunger strike, demanding removal of AITC flags and arrest of culprits. Under pressure, the police removed the AITC flags. But the hunger strike went on until three culprits were arrested on 24th May. Other culprits are still to be arrested.  Threats on CPI (M) workers are continuing because the AITC goons are loyal to a local Minister.

4. Uttar Dinajpur

Extensive areas of the district under Chopra, Islampur and Itahar blocks are subject to terror launched by AITC & INC. Areas specially affected are Chopra Daspara, Lakshmipur, Chutiakhore, Majiali GP in Chopra Block, Gobindapur, Kamlagaon, Sujali, Matikunda I & II, Agdimtikhunti GP in Islampur block, Marnai, Kapasia, Gulandar I & II, Durgapur and Patirajpur GPs in Itahar Block. People have no democratic rights in these areas. Four GPs (Durgapur, Kapasia, Sujali & Agdimtikhunti) which the Left Front had won last year have been forcibly taken over.

Number of false cases are 751 and people arrested on false cases 70.

People driven out of their homes number 450.

5.Dakshin Dinajpur

Several party workers, including leaders have been charged in false cases.  False cases were been lodged against at least 208 known CPI(M) activists, including Smt. Minati Ghosh and Sri Narayan Biswas, the former ministers of the state. These cases were filed by Gangarampur, Tapan, Harirampur and Banshihari PS.

6. Malda

On 20th May 2014 police arrested Dulal Rajak, CPI(M) councilor of ward no-4 of Old Malda Municipality on false charges and kept him in lockup for three days. On 31st May early in the morning several AITC miscreants attacked Mithun Singha and injured him with a sharp weapon; an FIR was filed on 2nd June.

17 people have arrested on false charges. 15 people have been driven out from their houses to protect themselves from AITC terror.  Four of them are members of Bhakrabandh GP and eleven others belong to Sabdalpur.

7. Nadia

Ever since the publication of results, Left Front supporters and  known  Left Front voters are being attacked and intimidated by AITC supporters. Several have been injured and hospitalized. Houses have been ransacked.

Under 9 police station areas of the District, people have been attacked. These include  Sri Bankim Ghosh, former Minister of West Bengal and several women leaders. Smt. Bela De, mother of a party supporter, was hurt when trying to save  her son from attack by AITC men. She had to be hospitalized. She died 2 days later. (28 May 2014)

The Nadia District Left Front made a representation to the District Magistrate on 27th May and complained of the unlawful activities and violent deeds of the AITC.
On 31st May Mrityunjay Thakur member of CPI(M) belonging to Muratipur village under Kalyani PS  has been threatened with murder several times over mobile phone,  unless  an amount of 2 lakh rupees is paid.

On 3rd June AITC miscreants have thrown bombs from their victory processions at the houses of CPI(M) supporters in Hatba village under Chapra PS. As a result CPI(M) activist Swapan Roy was seriously injured. Some other comrades have also sustained injuries. The miscreants looted some houses of the village. The terror in the village in the adjoining areas has been continuing . The police has taken no action. On the same day around 3pm AITC miscreants looted the house of Swapan Roy, DYFI leader, and beat him up.

On 5th June around 10am Priya Sarkar, former pradhan of Saguna GP was attacked by  AITC miscreants. She suffered head injuries and was treated at JNM Hospital. She was a polling agent at a booth where, in spite of terror, the CPI(M) candidate led. The Party leadership went to the PS in a deputation about this incident.  On the same day around 7am AITC goons led by Gopal Bhangri alias Gopal Sarkar harvested and wasted the vegetables and oil seeds grown by peasants of Debnathpur area under Tehatta PS. In a clash with villagers 5 peasants and 7 miscreants were injured. The AITC is active since May 2011 to drive out Patta-holders in these areas.

Around 8pm on the same night the house of Amal Bhowmik and Sibani Bhowmik, members of the district committee of the party, was attacked with powerful bombs which destroyed two windows and damaged furniture. Their house was also attacked 9 days before this. FIR has been submitted in Chakdaha PS.

At Tehatta an armed AITC gang wanted to forcibly occupy some land of Patta owners in Bagakhali Mouza.     

                                                                            
8. North 24 Parganas

Post-poll attacks by AITC in the district started as soon as results were announced. Three CPI (M) offices at ward no 13 of Habra South Local Committee, wards 4 and 6 at Panihati were ransacked. At least 6 other CPI (M) offices in different parts of the district were ransacked.  Four CITU offices in different areas were occupied. 1 club run by Party supporters and a DYFI office were damaged. 32 houses belonging to Party workers or supporters were attacked and damaged. Countless CPI (M) workers, especially those who served as agents during polling and counting, were mercilessly beaten up. 10 were beaten up at Kowgachhi alone.

At Swarupnagar, public property was heavily damaged in attacks on places within Sanrapur Nirman GP. The AITC people leading the attack terrorized surrounding areas.
On 1st June, a brick kiln workers’ union office (affiliated to CITU) in Hosainpur area of  Minakhan PS was set on fire.

All cases have been reported to the police but action has been taken in very few of them.
After Shri Narendra Modi took his oath as the Prime Minister of India on 26th May, 2014, some supporters of the BJP celebrated the event at Haldergheri Para with fireworks. The next day, on 27 May, 2014 some supporters of AITC, who are locally identified as anti-social elements, assembled on the spot and severely assaulted villagers including CPI(M) workers. 

When this news came to the knowledge of the villagers, they strongly agitated and demonstrated. Suddenly, some AITC led goons launched attack on the villagers with firearms, iron rods and chains, bars, etc. They started firing on the helpless villagers indiscriminately in presence of the Police where 25 people received injuries in different parts of their bodies. One sustained head injury with fracture of both bones in the forearm. Some women were also injured during the incident. All the 25 injured persons were primarily admitted at the Khuina Rural Hospital. Thereafter, 13 persons out of 25 were referred to the SSKM Hospital, Kolkata. The 13 persons who received bullet injuries belong to Scheduled Tribe community and this incident has created huge impact on their community in the area of utter fear and terror.

The most unfortunate fact of the incident is that on behalf of the attackers, Sri Sibapada Hazra, Member, Zilla Parishad, North 24-Parganas has lodged a complaint against the attacked persons and the Police has already started a case under various sections of IPC and Cr. P. C. (noted on 6th June, 2014)

Heavy terror continues in Amdanga PS area. It caused huge damage to the Jute workers and cultivators of the area. Left Front submitted memorandum to the local P.S. No proper action has been taken. 

In all 1175 people belonging to 11 different Blocks have been driven out from home.

114 false cases have been filed in 8 different Blocks and 29 people have been arrested on false charges.                                                                                                                      9. South 24 Parganas

Left Front workers and supporters have been attacked in many parts of the district after polling. Looting and ransacking by AITC workers took place in Baruipur, Basanti, Bhangor, Canning, Patharprotima, Bishnupur and Kakdwip. Party offices and those of mass organisations have been damaged or forcibly closed. Many shops and establishments were damaged, particularly in Kashipur, Jibantala, Basanti and Bhangor areas.

In South 24 Parganas,  after the Parliament election, at least 58 members of families of polling agents were evicted from their houses. At least 360 Left Front supporters have been attacked, 341 houses ransacked, 490 shops or small business affected, more than 40 lakhs of rupees collected forcefully from at least 567 of LF sympathizers. In 70 cases complaint was lodged at the police station while in other cases police has not accepted the complaints even. Rather at least 395 numbers of false cases are lodged by the attackers against those who are attacked. Many of the Left Front supporters are denied or obstructed from work in earning their livelihood. Some specific references are attached.             

10. Kolkata

Post-poll violence has affected 10 AC areas in 3 different PCs: Kolkata Uttar, Kolkata Dakshin and Jadavpur.

17 party offices at zonal and local levels have been attacked and damaged. 12 offices of  different organizations, sympathetic to Left Front, have been ransacked.
On the night of 31st May AITC launched a planned attack on a CITU Office of employees of shops and establishments. Chairs, tables, fans and furniture were broken and 5000 rupees stolen. On the same night a CPI(M) office in ward no 107 of Dakshin Kolkata PC was similarly ransacked and the martyrs’ column outside it was ground to dust. On 6th & 7th June respectively CPI(M) offices at 47 Christopher Rd, Kolkata – 14 and 49 Tangra Rd, were attacked and damaged.                                                                              Physical assaults on many individuals have been reported, including 10 LF workers and 1 LF councilor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation at whom a bomb was thrown. 11 houses of Party supporters and workers have been damaged/looted. One of them, in ward no 99, was attacked by AITC workers who were resisted by women of the locality. This attack was criticised even by some local AITC people.3 shops and business establishments of Left supporters were forcibly closed down to rob them of their livelihood.

Numerous false cases have been filed against LF workers. Of them, 29 are in wards no 9 and 17 alone.

On 8th June morning senior CPI(M) leaders Kanai Ganguly and Chanchal Das were threatened  by an armed AITC gang. They have ordered Kanai Ganguly, former Chairman, Borough Committee of KMC, to leave his house within 24 hours. This happened at Satchashipara under Cossipore P.S. where 2 CPI(M) offices have been forcibly occupied by AITC workers after the polls. Similar occupations have taken place at Paikpara and Sinthi.

11. Howrah

(1) 9 Left Front supporters have been beaten up by AITC miscreants in different villages under Udaynarayanpur PS.

(2) 279 houses of Left Front supporters have  been robbed, furniture and utensil damaged, mostly under Udaynarayanpur PS, Amta PS, Uluberia PS and Malipanchghara PS. On 5th June, at Jagarampur Banshberia village of Uluberia-2 block, a series of attacks by AITC goons left 8 houses of LF workers and supporters ransacked and 2 seriously injured. In the Malipanchghara incident, the house of a local CPI(M) leader was attacked twice within an hour on 16th May, doors, windows and furniture badly damaged with lathis and iron rods, a bag with rupees 5000 in cash taken away.

(3) 1 party office, 1CITU office, 1Kisan Sabha office and 1 DYFI office were ransacked.

(4) 1 martyrs’ column at Parijat crossing was destroyed.

(5) At least 878 people have been forced to leave home.

(6) 952 persons have been involved in 212 false cases.

(7) 41 persons have been prevented from going to work / earning their livelihood.

(8) Property of 148 families has been looted.

(9) 509 persons have been injured in physical attacks; 68 of them were admitted to hospitals.
Only 10 persons have so far been arrested.

Each of these attacks was led by AITC workers and miscreants. The incidents have been reported to PS concerned.

At Jagatballavpur, on the night of 31st May the police conducted raids in the village of Dakshinpatihal. Under the pretext of a search they harassed innocent people, including old men and women. Since then men of the village are forced to stay away from home and passed the night in the open field. 11 houses were thus attacked for a duration of three hours. When  a complaint was submitted to Jagatballavpur PS the OC denied the involvement of his men in the incident.  

  
12. Hooghly

Arambagh sub-division has been specially affected by AITC terror. In Kanaipur village of Goghat area, 15 houses belonging to Party workers have been damaged. In Nakunda Of Goghat an old woman and her son had to be hospitalized after being severely beaten by AITC men. In Jagannathpur of Khanakul, a polling agent was badly beaten up after polling. Numerous houses have been attacked and ransacked. A poultry farm belonging to a Party leader at Batanal was set on fire.

The District leadership of the Left Front wrote to the DM Hooghly about the multiple incidents of violence organized by AITC from 16th May to 27th May. These included the ransacking of houses and dwelling places in various parts of the District. There were numerous incidents of physical assaults, eviction from house, forcible occupation of party offices and clubs. All this is being done to prevent CPI(M) from holding protests.

A Left Front delegation led by Biman Basu visited Joysinghachawk of Madhabpur GP of Arambagh on May 31. The male members of almost all the families of the village left their homes because of sustained terror. The two party comrades Utpal Santra and Gopal Santra who had accompanied the delegation were attacked on the same night. Their houses have been burnt to ashes. The SDPO was informed about all these series of attacks but no action has been taken.

On 1st June 2 women of Gobarara village, Belmuri GP under Dhaniakhali PS were physically assaulted by AITC miscreants. Their sister-in-law Jharna Mandi and her daughter Sumana had been burnt to death earlier. The family is under attack because Lancho Mandi, Jharna’s husband is a known CPI(M) worker. The very next day 2nd June, Lancho’s niece Pratima Murmu was attacked at Gobarara village, Belmuri GP under Dhaniakhali PS.

In all 836 persons in the district have been forced out of their homes, 5205 have been involved in 784 false cases.

13. Purba Medinipur

A number of people have been affected by AITC terror in different Blocks. Houses have been attacked and damaged, ransoms forcibly taken, false cases filed and property looted. In Patashpur –I Block 101 persons have been affected in this way; 29 persons in Pataspur-II Block ; 42 persons in Kanthi-III Block (Marichda) out of whom 35 had to pay huge amounts of ransom. In Kanaidighi GP of the same Block, in booth no. 56, women were raped and in booth no. 57, several women were molested.

In Khejuri 5 GPs ( Janka, NijaKasba. Kalagachia, Kamarda and Birbandar) witnessed extensive terror and attacks. In Tikashi GP a resident of Chatnabari village was beaten and fined. In Henria GP the house of Nilmoni Maity of Mouhati-Debichak village was burnt down and when he complained at the PS he was banished from the area. About six others of the same village have been fined and driven out of home.

Terror is also extensive in Nandigram. In booths no. 16, 18, 25, 26, 99 and 126 several persons including polling agents have been beaten up and medical treatment denied. False cases have been filed against 32 persons in booths no 25 & 26. In booth no 249 Rabin Giri  CPI(M) workers returned home after a long time but was threatened again and rescued by police.

In 214 Bhagabanpur AC an AITC victory procession on 23rd May ended in the ransacking of 9 houses in booth no. 73, including the house of GP members Sabita Das and she was put under pressure for resignation.

In Ramnagar-I Block a fishery co-operative at Sankarpur of Talgachari-II GP was set on fire by AITC goons. Property worth 14 lakh rupees was destroyed. When the fishermen resisted, false cases were filed against 12 of them. Two CPI(M) workers were arrested but no AITC miscreant has been arrested. At Mirzapur village of Padima-I GP in the same block a poultry farm was looted by AITC miscreants. They also filed false cases against 10 persons. 

False cases have been lodged by Moyna PS after elections against 24 CPI(M) workers. Two of them are in the lock-up while 3 have been released on bail. Several comrades are staying away from home. Cases were filed at Moyna PS on 14/05/2014 against those who conducted criminal attacks on polling day (12/05/2014). These criminals, facing charges under 341/323/354/379/506/34IPC are moving about freely. Police is not arresting them.

14. Paschim Medinipur        

Since the declaration of results of Lok Sabha polls, 22 Party offices of CPI (M) in the district have been ransacked, 4 of them set on fire and 22 others forcibly shut down or occupied. Nearly 1175 people have been beaten and ransom extracted from them, including women who were stripped before being beaten, as at Hematpur village in Chandrakona I block.  476 houses have been damaged and looted. About 3000 persons had been driven away from home; some have returned but the figure of the homeless still stands at 2556. In Simla village of Chandrakona II block Nirmal Mukherjee was staying away from home when it was attacked on 2nd June and his aged mother and wife were beaten and thrown out. Among those who lost house and home on 23rd May, there were 25 families of tribal Shabars of Ghatkura village in Jambani block. At Radhanagar village in Kharagpur II block houses and shops belonging to 226 Munda tribal families were ransacked by AITC goons.  72 peasants are not allowed to till their land. 216 people have been forced to shut down their shops or business establishments. 55 persons are not being allowed to go to their workplace. 1185 party workers have been involved in 196 false cases. 76 of them are in prison. AITC blackmailers have raised rupees four crore in ransoms.  Cattle, livestock and other property worth rupees two crore have been looted. The electricity of 55 families has been disconnected. 

The fascistic terror of AITC knows no bounds as far as Keshpur AC of Ghatal PC is concerned. In the Keshpur AC itself the fallout of the terror till 22nd May was: evicted  1668 persons; physically assaulted 593; the loss due to loot, damage and fine is to the amount of Rupees 6.86 crores, martyred 1, cultivation stopped – 36 peasants, small shops and business stopped – 110 persons, unable to attend workplaces- 44 persons.

Baren  Dey, a leader of DYFI was kidnapped and beaten up on 27th May and again on 2nd June; the second time was from Belda High School where he teaches.  This is because they want him to withdraw the complaints he had filed against them.  From 2nd June he is not being allowed to go to his workplace.

On 8th June AITC miscreants kidnapped Saidul Bhuiyan (37) from a wedding ceremony at Shyamnagar village under Garbeta PS and carried him to Hatisole village where he was killed.

15. Bankura

Ujjal Chanda (22), CPI(M) activist and a poor peasant of Onda suffered grave injury caused by AITC hoodlums on May 29. His family members were also attacked on that day including his mother. He was admitted to SSKM hospital in Kolkata where he died on 3rd June.  Chanda’s family was previously attacked in 2013 and also in the January this year by his neighbour who is associated with the AITC. Complaint was lodged in the local police station. AITC activists have pressurized the police not to take any action against the culprits. 

Two CPI(M) offices at Kankila and Bankidaha  under Bishnupur PS were damaged by AITC attackers   on 16th  May. Under the same PS 11 CPI(M) workers including two polling agents were beaten up and some of them fined.

Under Taldangra PS many people are living under threat of displacement in the villages of Ghola, Mandi, Satmouli, Bikarda GP, Mutama. 150 families of Bairagbandh village in Bibardha GP are prevented from using drinking water or village ponds. They are not even allowed to shop for food. On 18th May a house was ransacked at Rajpur Muslimpara and a CPI(M) office was ransacked  at Panchmura village. Next day a house in Deulvira village was damaged after AITC victory celebration.

Under Joypur PS electricity has been disconnected from the Joypur CPI(M) office. Manju Pande of Joypur was beaten up at the village market.

1 CPI office at Dasgihi under the same P.S was locked up by AITC goons on 16th May and some wooden statues broken. On the same day a CPI worker Ganesh Mukherjee who was polling agent for LF was surrounded at home by AITC miscreants who burst bombs.

Under Patrasayar PS  a fishery was looted, a shop was forcibly closed down and  huge amounts were demanded from  three persons.

The people of all the above areas are living in terrible insecurity and the CPI(M) Bankura District Committee has informed the DM and SP in writing on 19th May, 2014, giving details of all the specific incidents.

16. Bardhaman

2 CPI (M) workers, including a woman, have been martyred after the polling: Kajol Sekh(45) of  Bastepota village under Memari PS and Ashmira Begum, former Panchayat member,  of Muhul village under Ketugram PS. 6 others were seriously injured in the Muhul incident. 42 others were injured in brutal attacks by AITC workers; many of them had to be hospitalized. 10 of them were injured on 17th May, when the Kanksa Zonal office of CPI (M) at Panagarh was attacked thrice. They include members of CPI (M)’s Burdwan District Committee and its secretariat.

Each incident was reported to the police. No arrests were made.

The attack on livelihood of Left Front supporters is widespread in the district. Forcible closure of shops and establishments, peasants forcibly being prevented from going to their land for agricultural work, milkmen being prevented from selling milk (leading to great wastage of milk) and the looting of goods worth 4 lakh rupees from a shop in Khandaghosh PS are all part of the AITC programme of starving people to death. Poorer sections and women have been special targets.

At Hatgobindapur village, women were molested by AITC men and policemen together; 500 peasants at least have been  prevented from harvesting their produce which was looted from the field by AITC goons. These peasants were also driven out of their home. 

Among numerous houses looted and damaged, there are the two houses of former MLAs Tapas Chatterjee and Samar Hazra.

At Gourdanga in Katwa PS, a wedding ceremony was attacked by AITC miscreants on 25th May, CPI (M) workers beaten up and women molested. Two were hospitalized including a woman. Though a complaint has been filed, no one has been arrested.
In Khurul village under Bhatar P.S. TMC miscreants attacked 5 women workers and they were admitted in Bhatar hospital. In Barabelun village under same P.S. AITC goons had broken the house of an LCM of CPI(M).

In Mongolkote PS. AITC miscreants attacked a local CPI(M) leader on 24th May. He had to be hospitalized. Similar incidents took place in Raina PS also.

Numerous physical assaults on party workers and members of their families and ransacking of many houses and personal property have been reported. The details of each incident were given to the District Magistrate by Party leaders on 26th May, 2014 in writing.

On 1st June, some drunks from an AITC ‘victory march’ passing through Malkita village under Sadar PS, dragged out from her home a 15-year old girl whose father was a polling agent for the CPI(M) candidate in the Loksabha Elections. Her shouts brought her neighbours rushing to the spot to save her. The miscreants fled, only to return later with arms and added manpower. The poor people of the village were severely beaten, five houses set on fire with the slogan “Mamata Banerjee Zindabad” on the arsonists’ lips. The haystacks of 5 CPI(M) workers and supporters were burnt. 3 of them also lost their paddy-silos in the fire. Cash and gold were also looted. The police arrived much later, arrested    7 of the victims and none of the miscreants. Complaint has been filed at Bardhaman Sadar  PS

17. Birbhum

On 19th May, two groups of tribals clashed in ward no 17 of Rampurhat town. AITC supported one side and lodged false cases against several people, with the commissioner of the ward Sanjib Mondal heading the list, though he was actually trying for peace. It is worth notice that Mallik had been returned on a hammer-and-sickle symbol and Lok Sabha candidate for LF also had a comfortable lead in this ward. Tension still persists here.

5 GP areas in the Dubrajpur Zone are affected by AITC attacks. Several villages have been attacked; ordinary people have been beaten up and threatened. In Mirul village under Loba GP, one man was abducted, taken to the Trinamool office and beaten. At 11 a.m. on 18th May, Rampur village under Jashpur GP was attacked, tube-wells were destroyed, women were beaten up and a temple gate was damaged. In Paduma GP, the villages with tribal population are specially targeted.

On June 3 at about 9-30pm a group of 60 AITC miscreants raided the Gopalpur village of Dubrajpur PS. They aimed at killing CPI(M) leader Moqdul Hossain. The village was encircled by the armed miscreants. On being informed the local police have arrived on the spot. The miscreants attacked the police with bombs. Five police personal was injured. Among them Anup Chakraborty seriously injured was immediately transferred to a Nursing Home. On the same day similar attack by AITC goons to place on the leaders of Sattor LC of CPI(M). Several families were thrown out and these homeless people are staying at the party office of Bolpur ZC.

In all 491 persons in the district have been robbed of their democratic rights by AITC attackers, 1138 driven out of home, 947 involved in false cases and 142 innocent people  arrested. 

********